“
Starry, starry night,
Flaming flowers that brightly blaze,
Swirling clouds in violet haze,
Reflect in Vincent’s eyes of china blue.
Colours changing hue,
Morning fields of amber grain,
Weathered faces lined in pain,
Are soothed beneath the artist’s loving
hand.
”
From the Don McLean song, “Vincent”
I was discussing Vincent Van Gogh today with an acquaintance. Inevitably, we discussed the most striking incident in the painter’s life, in which he cut off a part of his ear.
“Why did he do it, do you think?” she said to me. “Wasn’t it after an argument with Gauguin?”
“I think you might be right,” I said. “What I remember is that after cutting off a piece of his ear, he gave it to a woman called Rachel.”
That made me wonder what Rachel thought about it all.
“What’s that, Vincent? Is it a surprise present for me? You shouldn’t have!” … “Vincent, you really shouldn’t have.”
Poor Rachel must have been nervous any time
her birthday or Christmas came round.
“Let’s not exchange presents this year, Vincent. How about just eating a chocolate cake. Don’t go to any trouble to get me a present.”
Vocabulary:
to blaze – to burn fiercely or brightly
[eg., A warm fire is blazing to keep out
the winter cold.]
a hue – a colour or shade
[eg., He painted the sunrise in many
different hues of red and pink.]
to be striking – attracting attention
because it is unusual or stands out
[eg., Her dyed pink hair is very striking.]
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